Announcements

Betsy Witman enters her 18th season at the helm of the Spartan
women’s basketball team and the program has never been
better. The Spartans are coming off another Capital Athletic
Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance as the
Spartans went 26-3 including a conference-best 14-2 in the CAC.

Witman took over her current post on August 1, 1997. The
2008-2009 Spartans had the greatest season in school history as
they won 27 games, earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament,
advanced to the Sweet 16, won a school-record 25 straight games,
and went a perfect 16-0 in the Capital Athletic Conference regular
season. For her efforts, Witman was named the CAC Coach-of-the-Year
and also earned WBCA Regional Coach-of-the-Year.

The Spartans got Witman her first Capital Athletic Conference
Tournament championship in 2011 as the Spartans made a run through
the conference tournament, culminating with a 70-66 win over Wesley
College in the tournament championship game. That earned the
Spartans their second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last three
years. It also earned Witman her third CAC Coach-of-the-Year award.
She earned her other two CAC Coach-of-the-Year awards in 2002 and
2009. Witman begins the season with a mark of 145-81 in Capital
Athletic Conference action over the last 15 seasons. York has
reached double figures in conference wins six times.

The 2011-12 season started with great promise and the Spartans
didn't disappoint as the Green and White went 24-6, spent most of
the season in the regional rankings, advanced to the CAC
championship game and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the
third time in the previous four years. The Spartans went 14-2 in
the CAC with their only two losses coming to nationally ranked Mary
Washington. In fact, all six of York's losses on the year came to
nationally ranked squads. The Spartans placed a Capital Athletic
Conference record four players on the All-CAC team. Senior April
Sparkman earned All-American honors for the Spartans, the third
Spartan earn the prestigious honor under Witman's guidance.

The 2012-13 season was bittersweet for the Green and White as
York roared out of the gate with an 11-0 start and a national
ranking of 11th. The Spartans would drop their next three straight
before bouncing back to finish third in the CAC and advancing to
the CAC semifinals where they were edged by Mary Washington,
denying York a third straight trip to the conference finals. Junior
forward Brittany Hicks became York's fourth national All-American
and was joined on the All-CAC squad by Kristen Haley and Aja
Wallpher.

The 2013-14 season capped the most successful four year run in
school history. The Spartans captured the regular season CAC
championship and won their second CAC Tournament championship. The
Green and White made their fourth NCAA Touranment appearance. The
Spartan senior class of Hicks, Haley, Wallpher and Kelsey Murphy
combined to go 86-29 during their four year careers. Hicks earned
All-American honors for the second straight season as she becomes
York's first two-time All-American. Witman earned her fourth CAC
Coach of the Year award while Hicks, Haley and Wallpher earned
All-CAC accolades.

Witman posted her 100th career win on February 9, 2004, in a
68-64 win over Elizabethtown. She captured her 150th career win on
November 20, 2007, against Goucher. Witman crossed the 200-career
win milestone on January 13, 2010 with the 67-64 win at Salisbury.
Win number 250 came in the NCAA Tournament victory at Juniata on
March 3, 2012. Witman enters the 2014-15 campaign with a career
mark of 290-171, good for a winning percentage of 62.9%.

She has recruited and coached three CAC Player-of-the-Year award
winners (Heather Kessler in 2004, Keli Ward in 2009, and Brittany
Hicks in 2014) and four CAC Rookie-of-the-Year selections (Amy
Anderson in 1997, Kristen Daly in 2005, Keli Ward in 2006, and
Kristen Haley in 2011). Witman has also had 15 different players
earn a combined 34 All-CAC awards. Witman has coached 11 of the
Spartans' 14 1,000-career point scorers including Haley and Hicks
who joined the club in 2012-13.

Witman came to York after four seasons of serving as the
women’s assistant coach at Millersville University. The
Marauders won 57 games during Witman’s tenure at Millersville
including a 17-9 season in 1996-97. In addition to coaching at
Millersville, Witman has also served as an assistant at the
University of Delaware.

Witman is not a stranger to York County basketball. She was born
and raised in Hanover before traveling to James Madison University
where she was a 1,000 point scorer for two Sweet 16 teams. She
earned her undergraduate degree in Physical Education/Sport
Management from JMU and her master’s degree in Physical
Education/Sports Medicine from the University of Delaware. She was
named one of the best five high school players in York County over
the last 40 years by the York Dispatch. She is also a member of the
Hanover High School Athletic Hall of Fame and recently received the
Hanover Alumni Career Achievement Award.

“I am happy with the direction of our program,” says
Witman. “I think we have built the program up to where it is
a very attractive option for talented student-athletes. I want us
to build on the success of the last five years and continue to
maintain our status as one of the top programs in the region and
the nation. The Grumbacher Center is one of the finest facilities
in the east coast if not the nation.”

“With our outstanding academic reputation and reputable
athletic program, I am confident in our team’s ability to
continue to make York College very proud. We have a great group of
kids who work hard and possess the talent to make this a very
special program,” says Witman.

The Spartans continue to be outstanding academically. After
being ranked number one in the nation for team GPA in 2005, the
Spartans finished second in 2006 and runner-up again in 2008.

Sue Kuhn enters her 22nd season as an assistant coach for the
York College women’s basketball program. Kuhn previously
served as former coach Donna Wise’s assistant and remained on
staff with Coach Witman as she has been the lead assistant for the
last 18 years.

Kuhn came to York from Biglerville High School where she served
as the head girls’ basketball coach.

“Kuhnie” brings a wealth of experience to the
Spartan program. In addition to her stint at Biglerville, she also
served one year as an assistant coach at Gettysburg
College.Kuhn’s playing experience was extensive. She played
at New Oxford High School and was a 1,000 point scorer before
lettering at Lock Haven University where she earned her degree in
Physical Education. She also helped lead the Lady Eagles to the
PSAC championship.

In the winter of 2013, she was inducted into the New Oxford
Athletic Hall of Fame.

Joe Scholles begins his ninth season as a member of the women's
basketball staff.

Scholles is a former standout player at Hanover High School. He
served Witman as a student manager in his first two years on the
staff before being elevated to his current position where he is in
his seventh season.

Scholles brings a tireless energy to the program. His
responsibilities include game day preparation, recruiting,
assisting in practice preparation, and other duties assigned by
Coach Witman.

“Joe is a hard worker that has made himself an important
part of our staff,” says Witman. "He is a bright, young
coach that brings an energy and enthusiasum to the program."

Kelsey Murphy is in her first year on Betsy Witman's staff after
a stellar four year Spartan career. Murphy will serve as a
volunteer assistant for the Green and White in 2014-15.

Murphy completed her career as a four-year starter for Witman
and the Spartans. Murphy holds the school records for career games
played (115) and three point field goals made (193).

Murphy finished her stellar career with 907 points, 293
rebounds, 221 assists, 120 steals, and 68 blocked shots in her 115
career games. She played 3614 minutes and was a 34.1% career
shooter from three.

Murphy logged career highs of 21 points, nine rebounds, eight
assists, five steals and three blocked shots. She made five three
point field goals in five different games during her career.

Murphy is completing her work towards her behavioral science
degree.

Updated: 10/28/2014

Athletic Department
York College of Pennsylvania
441 Country Club Road
York, PA 17403-3651
(717) 815-1780